Freezing rain for March 24, 2016 has made a miserable morning. Weather people and the police suggest that it is best to stay home if at all possible. Thursday will see temperatures climb a little to as much as two degrees Celsius this evening and maybe four degree overnight. Freezing rain closes schools, makes travel tricky
STREETCARS AND ICE
There are many reports of how the 19th Century technology of streetcars is not working Thursday. Witnesses report the streetcars were lined up at St. Clair West near Caledonia moving a few metres forward, then going (sliding?) backwards. Or, this may be a technique used to somehow clear the wires of ice. On Twitter, a hapless rider said “My streetcar is having definite issues this morning.”
LATEST WEATHER ADVICE
Freezing rain has developed and is expected to continue today. Several hours of freezing rain have been reported overnight resulting in ice accretion and several power outages. Between 5 and 10 mm of ice accumulation are possible before the freezing rain changes to rain this afternoon as temperatures slowly inch above zero. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. Slow down driving in slippery conditions. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. Ice build-up may cause tree branches to break. Utility outages may occur. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm.ontario@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports to #ONStorm.
A significant freezing rain event will begin Wednesday evening. A low pressure system will give periods of snow or ice pellets to the region through the day Wednesday. Then as the cold air continues to move into the regions from the northeast the precipitation will change over to freezing rain Wednesday night and continue until Thursday morning. Ice accretion on untreated surfaces of 5 to 10 millimeters is possible by Thursday morning. Slippery conditions may cause significant impact on transportation. There may also be power outages. Areas from Toronto westward will see the freezing rain change to rain Thursday morning. East of Toronto the freezing rain will end later in the day on Thursday. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. Beware of branches or electrical wires that could break under the weight of ice. Utility outages may occur. Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight. For information on emergency plans and kits go to http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/ Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm.ontario@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports to #ONStorm.– AES alert. CBC
